A/N: For all of you who are reading this story, I have an important announcement. I have decided that I will put all of my fics on hold but one, this one. I'm am going to finish this one first, and then go on to finishing another (let me know which one you'd like finished por favor), as I find it much easier to do. Updates should come more frequently now.
A/N 2: Merry belated Christmas everyone and Happy New Year.
In The End Ch. 3: Unexpected News
Quietly, Severus slowly walked out of his chambers and up the many staircases leading toward the gargoyles that guarded the entrance to the headmaster's office. On his way, he passed Samantha who was on her way back to the Gryffindor common room; and asked her to go keep an eye on the children, even though he told them he wouldn't send her down. As she altered her path, he continued in the same direction, reassured that nothing would happen in the dungeons. A few minutes later he arrived at the statues and gave the password, "Twizler." He quickly made his way up the spiral staircase, silently cursing the old mans obsession with confectionary substances. One day a student was going to walk by and say the password during casual conversation and take the headmaster by surprise.
When Severus walked into the office he was cheerfully greeted by the headmaster, "Good evening Severus. Twizler?" he asked, extending a bowl full of the wrapped candy in front of his Potions Master.
"No thank you, Albus, but as Aden and Logan know I'm here, I know they'll be expecting something, as I have come to learn over the years," Severus replied and reached forward to take two of the packages, tucking them away in a pocket of his robes.
Severus took the offered seat in front of the headmaster's desk as the headmaster himself took a seat behind it. "What did you wish to speak with me about, Albus?" Severus asked when the headmaster didn't say anything.
"Although this isn't what I wished to speak with you about, Severus, but I feel that I must address this issue," Dumbledore said while looking in Severus' direction and waited until he nodded before continuing, "It's just that, are you sure you should be giving money out to Miss Lanstring like that? Nobody has directly addressed me about it, but I see how some of the students discuss it. I am afraid that someone might take it the wrong way and think that there is something more between the two of you."
Slightly angry at what he thought Dumbledore was accusing him of, he bitterly replied, "Albus, surely you aren't implying that I have more…intimate relations with Miss Lanstring!"
"Well…"
"Albus, she's a student and my children's babysitter! How could you ever think that?!" Severus protested, not liking the direction in which the conversation was heading.
"Don't forget, Severus, Hermione was a student also. It didn't seem to stop you then, so why would it now?" Dumbledore prodded, testing a theory he had.
"Don't bring Hermione into this, Albus," Severus began in a stone cold voice, "I am very well aware of the fact that she was a student at the time, but this…immorality, you are accusing me of is blatantly distasteful. I realize that the nineteen years between Hermione and myself was pushing the limits of acceptability, but Miss Lanstring is at least, I don't know, thirty-four years or so younger than myself! I am NOT a pedophile! I can't believe you are accusing me of such a thing! Even if Hermione is no longer with us, I still love her and always will!" Severus declared, his voice raising an octave with each sentence, clearly very irate, as he was now standing with his hands braced on the desk and was glaring daggers at Albus, the man he had come to see as a father.
"Which brings me to the reason as to why I asked you here, Severus," Albus responded, seeing that his theory was holding true. Albus stood and placed his hands on Severus shoulders. "She may still be here with us, my boy."
Clearly thinking he was hearing things due to the animosity of the simple statement, Severus questioned, "What did you say?"
"You heard me, Severus."
"Albus, I am warning you now, do not pull on my tether, because if this is some sort of sick joke, I swear I'll…" Severus harshly replied, but trailed off as he saw the headmaster shake his head.
"This in no joke, Severus. I am very much serious. She could still be with us," Dumbledore answered him and inwardly smiled when he saw Severus loose what poise he still possessed at that moment and fall back into the chair he had been occupying only moments before. The silence prevailed for several minutes as Severus sat, slouched in his chair with his hands covering his face, processing what information the headmaster had just divulged to him.
"How?" Severus pleadingly questioned, still not believing what he had heard.
"It is rather quite complicated, Severus, as I understand it. However I will do the best that I can to explain it. One moment please," Dumbledore responded calmly and began to rummage around in his desk drawers seeming to be searching for something. As he pushed around folders, documents, quills, inkbottles, and scarps of old parchment, which found their way into the wastebasket, Severus heard him mumbling to himself, "Now where could I have put that thing? I just had it! I really must be getting old…" Then, looking across his desk he spotted what he was looking for sitting atop a pile of papers on the left side of his desk. He picked up the folded Daily Prophet and passed it to Severus while saying, "Ah ha! Here it is!"
Not bothering to open it yet, Severus replied, "What is this for, Albus?"
"It's an early edition of tomorrow's Daily Prophet, which Harry privileged me to this afternoon by owl, thinking that I should see it before the news came out in the morning. Open it and read the headline and its story. It may very well change you life, Severus."
Skeptically, Severus opened up the newspaper and read the headline. 'CONFIDENTIAL UNFORGIVABLE CURSE RESEARCH UNVEILED.' Looking up he saw Albus nod, and Severus continued reading the article:
CONFIDENTIAL UNFORGIVABLE CURSE RESEARCH UNVIELED:
In a new, secluded section of the Ministry of Magic that began directly after the fall of You-Know-Who, which few people have ever heard of entitled The Center of Curse Control and Dark Research, crucial research has just been released to the public today concerning the excessive use of the Cruciatus Curse on a person, which eventually ended in the subjects passing.
"After extensive research on the subject, partially for my own piece of mind due to events concerning a dear friend of mine, and research purposes, we have made a life changing discovery for many," reports the director of the department, Harry Potter. "As many of you will remember, numerous people 'lost' their lives at the hands of Voldemort and his Death Eaters, not only through the Killing Curse, but also through extensive, repetitive use of the Cruciatus Curse. However it appears that those who were killed by the Cruciatus Curse, are in fact not dead, but alive. Alive, yes, but just barely." This is sure to be a major shock to those whom have been affected by this devastation. However many may also find this hard to believe, and impossible, as shown by current facts, but the research shows otherwise.
Harry Potter continues his report by explaining how it is completely possible. "It appears as if these people are in what we have began to call 'a state of suspended animation.' This means that, appearance wise, the patient holds all the characteristics of being nothing more than a corpse, however chemically this is not the case. It would seem that the inflicted person has so shallow of a pulse it is virtually undetectable to even the most qualified healer, as is their blood pressure. Their internal temperature also plummets to dangerous levels for most people, as proven in all aspects know to medical science, both magical and muggle. But this is explainable. The afflicted person's metabolic rate has slowed down so much, almost as if the person is in an extremely deep, undetectable sleep, or hibernation. This means that all symptoms above were completely normal and the patients absent heart beat was missing when vital signs were taken because the heart only beat four times a day. Our research has also shown that for every year the person is in this state, one heartbeat is lost, until the heart no longer beats, thus leaving the person undeniably dead. As you can see, this means that the longest time a person can spend in this state is a maximum of four years before the body systems shut down entirely," Harry Potter concluded, and then added this last statement before leaving: "We have not yet found a way to correct this problem though. Thus, we are asking for anybody who specializes in potions, charms, the dark arts and/or ancient magic to step fourth and volunteer to help with our research."
Shelinda Marksworth,
Ministry Writings
Shocked, Severus looked up at Albus and stuttered out, "Does…does this mean that…that Hermione is…Hermione is…alive?"
"It isn't directly saying that, but yes, that's what it means. Isn't it spectacular news?"
"Of course it is, Albus. But I've just gotten so used to her and her presence not being here that…" Severus began to dabble on. "But I would do anything to have her back. You don't know what it's like to not have the one person you love unconditionally not with you every day," Severus said to Albus, in a sad tone that was so soft the headmaster barely heard him.
Then, from the corner of the room where Albus' fireplace was, a new voice spoke up from the corner of the room, joining the conversation. "So will you help us, Severus?"
"Potter," Severus declared as Harry walked over to them. "When did you get here?"
"Now Sev I though we got past that last name stage? And I got here just as you finished the newspaper article, apparently nobody noticed. I will repeat it again, will you help us?"
"Don't call me Sev, Harry. As for helping you… I don't know," Severus replied, staring down at his hands.
Surprised by his response, both Harry and Albus turned to stare at him with mouths agape. Harry, whom recovered from his state of shock first, nearly shouted, "What do you mean you 'don't know', Severus? You just said you 'would do anything' to have Hermione back didn't you? You don't have anything to think about!"
Abruptly standing, Severus hotly retorted, "If it were my decision to make I would say yes before you could have finished you sentence, you know that. But its NOT my decision to make, Harry," and now stood nose to nose with the boy who lived.
Harry was becoming more confused by the man as time went by and now clearly had no idea what Severus was talking about. "If it isn't your decision on if you want to help the research that will bring back your WIFE, then whose decision is it?"
After he picked the newspaper up, Severus answered what he though was an easy question. "The decision belongs to Aden, Logan, and Isabel. If they want their mother back I'll take on the project, but if you don't you'll have to find a different Potions Master to help you. You see Potter, unlike you; I care more about what my children want than my own personal gratification. If they don't want Hermione back then I'll respect their choice and live the remainder of my life alone, knowing that I at least have my children and that they love me and I love them. I would never hold the decision against them if they choose not to want her with us."
"Don't give me that bullshit Snape," Harry bit out just as bitterly as Severus had on numerous occasions before. Just as Severus was about to walk out of the office, Harry added, "You know as well as I do that they want her as much as you do. They've told me how they sometimes hear and see cry to sleep some nights because the memories plague your waking and subconscious thoughts. And I also know that Isabel asks almost every nigh about when she going to see her mother because she can barley remember her."
At Harry's declaration, Severus stopped where he was and stared at the ground for a moment before quietly sighing and responded, "I know," and walked out of the office and back to the dungeons, deep in thought.
******************
When Severus entered their chambers the first thing he saw was Logan and Aden playing exploding snap and Samantha and Isabel nowhere in the living room. Logan and Aden hadn't noticed their father enter the room, thus they nearly jumped out of their skin when he addressed them, "Where are Isabel and Samantha?"
"Sam is getting Isabel ready for bed," Logan responded as he waited for Aden to make his move. Severus only nodded and headed into Isabel's room. The room was typical for a small girl, with pale purple geometrically designed wallpaper and white trims. Pushed against the left wall was an oak crib with pastel blue and yellow bedding and toy chest next to it. Along the back wall there was a dressing table stacked with Isabel's baby necessities and other little odds and ends. Built into the right wall was Isabel's closet, which contained most of her clothing and other miscellaneous items. Just to the left of the door, Isabel had piled all of her dolls and stuffed animals in a pile for unsuspecting people to trip over.
Samantha hadn't yet noticed him and when she finished with Isabel, she turned around set her on the floor, allowing her to crawl away back to the living room. Looking up she saw her professor standing in the doorway, simply staring ahead at the spot Isabel had been. Sensing the tension she walked forward and asked, "Is something wrong Professor? Did you meeting with the headmaster go alright?"
Severus realized that she was talking to him and turned his attention to her, saying, "It went fine Samantha. It's just that…"
Samantha noticed how he trailed off again and was once more being captivated by the wall, so she grabbed hold oh is forearm, gave it a slight tug and demanded, "Sir, tell me what's wrong, please."
"Hermione…" Severus distantly replied, ignoring her confused look.
"Professor Granger-Snape? What about your wife, sir?" Samantha asked softly, intrigued by the subject of her deceased mentor.
"That is what Albus wanted to see me about. She may not be dead after all. She may still be alive, but only just," Severus told her, feeling that she was one person he truly could trust, and that she wouldn't go blabbing about it to everybody else.
"What?!" Samantha almost yelled and lowered her voice to a near sharp whisper, "How? She was declared dead on the night of the final battle by the medi-witch."
"Read the Daily Prophet in the morning, it should explain everything," Severus responded, and then added after looking at the clock on the wall, "You should go. Its almost curfew and I'd hate to take points from you for being out after hours."
Samantha hugged him slightly in a comforting gesture, which he returned, and said, "Everything will be fine Professor. I will see you tomorrow," and then excused herself and went to Gryffindor tower.
Severus walked back out to the living room and sat down on one of the couches and watched his children for a few minutes before interrupting them. "Logan, Aden, come here I need to talk to you," Severus said and they put down their cards and sat on the couch as well. When he heard Isabel's whimper of protest, Severus turned to look at her and saw she was half turned around, cards still in hand with her face scrunched up, ready to cry. Immediately he said, "And you too of course sweetie," and scooped her up upside down, which caused her to giggle uncontrollably as he sat her on his lap.
"So what did you need to talk to us about, dad?"
"It's about my meeting with Albus…and your mother," Severus told them.
"Grandpa Albus? Did you bring us back anything?" Aden asked and grabbed the twizlers when Severus pulled them out of his robes.
"You twit," Logan said as he pulled one of the twizlers away from Aden and then asked the question on all of the children's minds. "Who cares about Grandpa Albus. What about mum, dad?"
"Yes. Read this," Severus said as he handed the newspaper over to Logan for him and Aden to read.
"Want mummy…" Isabel muttered as Logan and Aden sat side by side and scrutinized the article in the newspaper, their expression becoming more astounded as they read.
"Everything will be fine sweetie," Severus said to her and pulled her tighter against him.
"Dad?" Aden questioned, having finished reading the article first. "Does this mean that mum is…"
"Yes Aden. Hermione is alive, more than likely, but just barley. But…what I need to know is…do you want you mother back? I know that I do, but it's really you children's decision to make," Severus told them, beginning to feel quite stupid for even asking the question.
"What sort of question is that, dad?" Aden asked him, "Of course we want her back. Right Logan?"
"Yeah! And so does Izzy! You heard her. What ever you make you think we didn't?" Logan confirmed vociferously, bringing a smile to Severus' face.
"So you want me to take the offer and help with the research that will make it possible? Even if it takes up more of my time and I have less to spend with you?"
"Of course we do!" Aden and Logan chorused simultaneously. Severus hugged both of the together and then glanced at the clock, noticing it was nearly eight.
"I'll be right back, boys. Time for Isabel to go to sleep."
"No, no, no!" Isabel wined in her cutest pleading voice.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Severus shot back carried her pouting form to her room and laid her down with her Slytherin style teddy bear and covered her with her blanket before walking back into living room. Severus noticed that Logan and Aden weren't paying attention and decided to take advantage of the moment. He snuck up behind them and tackled them to the floor. After a few minutes of roughhousing, which left Severus with a few well-placed bruises that he was sure to be asked about, they managed to calm down and get themselves back under control.
"Now, like I said earlier today," Severus began in a serious tone with a slight smirk playing at his lips, and rejoiced about what was to come. "It's time for learn what the term 'babysitting' means," He then stood and proceeded to pin them with his trademark glare, preparing himself to give another of many lectures to his sons and muttered the silencing charm so assure that what ever yelling may come would not wake Isabel.
Their mood ruined, the twins again chorused, "But dad!" However the protests were to no avail and then dejectedly plopped onto the leather couch, preparing themselves for the tirade of a lecture they were again going to be subjected to.
******************
The next morning Severus entered the Great Hall with the children through the main entrance and headed directly toward Dumbledore, while the children rounded the table and began to eat. Logan and Aden, however, were also rubbing their ears to distil the ringing in them, which some found humorous, especially some of the teachers, because they knew that Severus Snape's oldest children had once again been lectured. Severus stopped in front of Dumbledore and answered him, "I'll do it Albus."
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